Effects of Low- vs. High-Load Resistance Training on Muscle Strength and Hypertrophy in Well-Trained Men

@article{Schoenfeld2015EffectsOL,
  title={Effects of Low- vs. High-Load Resistance Training on Muscle Strength and Hypertrophy in Well-Trained Men},
  author={Brad Jon Schoenfeld and Mark D. Peterson and Daniel I. Ogborn and Bret Contreras and Gul Tiryaki Sonmez},
  journal={Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research},
  year={2015},
  volume={29},
  pages={2954–2963}
}
Abstract Schoenfeld, BJ, Peterson, MD, Ogborn, D, Contreras, B, and Sonmez, GT. Effects of low- vs. high-load resistance training on muscle strength and hypertrophy in well-trained men. J Strength Cond Res 29(10): 2954–2963, 2015—The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of low- versus high-load resistance training (RT) on muscular adaptations in well-trained subjects. Eighteen young men experienced in RT were matched according to baseline strength and then randomly assigned to 1 of 2… 
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269 Citations
Highly Influential Citations
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Background Citations
119
Methods Citations
20
Results Citations
27

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269 Citations

Differential Effects of Heavy Versus Moderate Loads on Measures of Strength and Hypertrophy in Resistance-Trained Men.

Findings indicate that heavy load training is superior for maximal strength goals while moderate loadTraining is more suited to hypertrophy-related goals when an equal number of sets are performed between conditions.

Effects of High-Load Resistance Training versus Pyramid Training System on Maximal Muscle Strength in Well-Trained Young Men: A Randomized Controlled Study

It is suggested that to use a combination of different RT systems over time may help to maintain interest in and motivation to perform RT by allowing a varied RT program.

Muscle Failure Promotes Greater Muscle Hypertrophy in Low-Load but Not in High-Load Resistance Training

It is concluded that when training with low loads, training with a high level of effort seems to have greater importance than total training volume in the accretion of muscle mass, whereas for high load training, muscle failure does not promote any additional benefits.

Effects of Different Resistance Training Systems on Muscular Strength and Hypertrophy in Resistance-Trained Older Women

Results suggest that both systems are effective to improve strength and muscle growth, but PR is not superior to CT for inducing improvements in previously trained older women.

Neither load nor systemic hormones determine resistance training-mediated hypertrophy or strength gains in resistance-trained young men

Load, when exercises are performed to volitional failure, does not dictate hypertrophy or, for the most part, strength gains in resistance-trained individuals.

Strength and Hypertrophy Adaptations Between Low- vs. High-Load Resistance Training: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

It is indicated that maximal strength benefits are obtained from the use of heavy loads while muscle hypertrophy can be equally achieved across a spectrum of loading ranges.

Impact of high versus low fixed loads and non-linear training loads on muscle hypertrophy, strength and force development

It is concluded that, as long as RT is conducted to failure, training load might not affect muscle hypertrophy in young men and a non-linear RT protocol switching loads every 2 weeks might not lead to superior musclehypertrophy nor strength gains in comparison with straight RT protocols.

A Comparison of Increases in Volume Load Over 8 Weeks of Low-Versus High-Load Resistance Training

This study indicates that low-load RT results in greater accumulations in VL compared to high- load RT over the course of 8 weeks of training.

Effect of resistance training to muscle failure vs non-failure on strength, hypertrophy and muscle architecture in trained individuals

In conclusion, RT-F and RT-NF are similarly effective in promoting increases in muscle mass, PA, FL, strength and activation.

Comparing the effects of low and high load resistance exercise to failure on adaptive responses to resistance exercise in young women

When resistance exercise is performed to volitional failure gains in muscle size and strength are independent of load in young women.
...

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